The Promenade Concert Orchestra, Music from the Palm Court, The Platform, Morecambe

ON A GLORIOUS spring afternoon, Howard Rogerson and the Promenade Concert Orchestra once again transported their audience back to the genteel surroundings of the Palm Court. The opening item was the Overture to Auber’s opera Masaniello, music by turns jaunty and dramatic, followed by two pieces by Percy Fletcher - Demoiselle Chic and, perhaps the best known item on the programme, the exuberant Bal Masque.

Palm Court concerts usually included novelty items, in which members of the orchestra could perform their ‘party pieces’ and this was no exception. Percussionists Irene Wynne-George and Kathryn Brown took centre stage with great élan to perform the xylophone duet The Two Imps by Kenneth Alford, before the orchestra took us on Herman Finck’s exotic Ride of the Janissaries. The elegant Valse Doree by Bucalossi was followed by another novelty item, Silver Birds, in which Suzanne de Lozey demonstrated her virtuosity on the piccolo, conjuring up cascades of delicate birdsong. The first half concluded with movements from Mascarade for the Merchant of Venice by Arthur Sullivan, including an intricate bassoon cadenza, and some spirited snare drum rolls. Written before his collaboration with Gilbert, this gave tantalising glimpses of the music he would write for the Savoy operas.

The second half opened with the exhilarating march Abschied der Gladiatoren which was followed by the world premiere of Lucia’s Dance, a piece specially commissioned by the PCO, and written by orchestra member Julian Davies. A spirited tango, this featured lush strings and evocative rhythmic percussion, and the composer received well-deserved acclaim at its conclusion. Chris Hampson performed a moving euphonium solo by Haydn Wood, Fleurette, I shall never forget, before the orchestra, once again in light-hearted mood, gave us a lively two-step, Gnats, and A Clockwork Courtship, in which the percussion department conjured up clocks ticking, springs winding down, a cuckoo and many other effects. The concert concluded with a selection from The Rebel Maid by Montague Phillips.

Some people think that ‘light music’ is easy, whereas it is in fact extremely complex; there can be no passengers - any member of the orchestra may suddenly be in the spotlight. The Promenade Concert Orchestra has proved once again that they can rise to any challenge, and under Howard’s assured direction they gave us a delightful afternoon’s entertainment.

Julia and Sarah Glossop